Janet Waddams has died, aged 83. An active member of St Mary's church, Janet was untiring in expressing her concern for others in very practical ways. She was the prime mover for many years in providing a welcome to the children of Chernobyl when they visited Rye annually for holiday respite from the effects of the 1986 nuclear disaster.
More recently, Janet has been deeply involved in the Samara Appeal for Syria. She initiated the local fund-raising and collection of blankets, clothing and other wares, packaged for dispatch overland by container lorries. This work will continue through the knitting group of which she was a founder member.
Sandra Lanigan who coordinates this group writes: "As usual her sense of humour was to the fore and you can imagine how much we will miss her once we get together again" (after the coronavirus lock-down ends).
Pamela Buxton, wife of the Revd Paddy Buxton a former rector of St Mary's Church, also pays tribute to Janet Waddams: "Just over thirty years ago when my husband and I first arrived in Rye we had the pleasure and privilege of meeting and getting to know Janet. It was not all that long before she confided she felt called to the ministry, but family circumstances made that unfeasible. Instead, with encouragement, and support she studied to become a reader, and she was able to fulfil at least part of her 'calling'.
"After the tragedy of Chernobyl, she worked to bring children to Rye for a healing visit of fun, and importantly, medical and dental care. Because of Janet's ongoing commitment, families in Rye and surrounding villages housed one or two of the children every year.
Janet was also the 'force' behind the annual shoe-box appeal which so many of us gladly supported, filling the boxes with a variety of necessary personal goods and the occasional toy.
"Never one to sit idly, Janet was a member of prayer groups, Lenten groups and the knitting group attached to the church. Always supportive of new rectors as they arrived, and until recent times singing in the choir she will be missed by a multitude of friends. Her kindness, concern and spirituality will be sadly missed."
